Iraqi court sentences two Islamic State militants to death

Diyala (IraqiNews.com) Diyala Criminal Court has sentenced two Islamic State militants to death over carrying out several terrorist operations.

In a statement on Sunday, Abdul Sattar Bir Qadar, spokesperson for the High Judicial Council, said “Diyala Criminal Court sentenced two suspects, who belongs to IS, to death over carrying out several crimes in the province.”

“The most famous one is the suicide attack that targeted a cafe in Muqdadiyah in 2016, which left many people killed and injured,” he added.

Earlier this month, Justice Ministry said death sentences have been carried out against 38 convicts involved in terrorism. In September, the ministry announced that 42 convicts were sentenced to death. In July 2016, The Iraqi Court of Discrimination, sentenced 40 convicts to death over involvement in crime by IS and other collaborators killing 1700 persons in Speicher Camp in Tikrit in 2014.

12 convicts were sentenced to death in June and 22 others in May.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared victory over the militant group, previously in December, however, observers warn that the group still poses a security threat with sleeper cells.

Violence in the country has surged further with the emergence of Islamic State Sunni extremist militants who proclaimed an “Islamic Caliphate” in Iraq and Syria in 2014.

Iraqi forces, backed by a U.S.-led coalition and paramilitary troops, have been fighting since October 2016 to retake territories Islamic State had occupied.